According to epidemiologist Elizabeth Pisani, a bizarre type of "rationality" dictates our state and national policies regarding prevention of HIV. Her frank talk is both entertaining and filled with counter-intuitive facts. Listen to what she has to say about providing needles to addicts and then call your legislators. Well worth your while.
When asked what Bush accomplished during his eight years in office, many people point out that he was responsible for putting together a comprehensive AIDS program for Africa. In an article called, "An Unlikely Champion," found in the January 15, 2009 edition of Nature (available only to subscribers online), the authors discuss the good and the not so good about the Bush AIDS program. That program was called the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ("PEPFAR"). First of all, the good. PEPFAR put more than 2 million HIV-positive people on anti-retroviral treatments since the beginning of the program (in 2003). By 2008, PEPFAR prevented infection of 240,000 babies born to HIV-infected mothers. It also provided healthcare for 9.7 million people. On the other hand, PEPFAR "has also been highly controversial because of stipulations on how its funds should be spent."
This is mind-blowing. To think that I used to have some respect for John McCain. The question recently put to McCain, on his Straight-Talk Express campaign tour, was straight-forward. Here's the transcript of what unfolded: Q: “What about grants for sex education in the United States? Should they include instructions…